Are you patient, and do you like to help people? Are you interested in doing research on intriguing questions of human nature? If so, you may want to consider a career as a clinical or counseling psychologist. While questions about why we do the things we do have been asked since the dawn of humanity, psychology, with its scientific approach to answering those questions, has only been a distinct career for about 125 years. The field of psychology focuses on both research and practice. Through research, psychologists aim to better understand both basic and complex aspects of human and animal behavior. Practice in psychology involves applying the knowledge gained through research to help resolve human difficulties.

Psychology is a very broad field and psychologists specialize in numerous areas such as development, education, physical and mental health, emotional and behavioral disorders, sports, society, neurology, forensics, and the workplace. In their research, psychologists in each of these specialties will usually focus on a specific issue or related issues. For example, a clinical psychologist with a specialization in developmental psychology might look at how styles of parental discipline affect a child's emotional development. Clinical and counseling psychologists work in a variety of settings with a variety of duties. One of the main emphases of their training, in addition to doing research, is in applying knowledge and research results to help people experiencing difficulties.

Clinical psychologists assess behavioral, mental, and emotional problems. Using the results of their tests and research they then formulate treatment plans to help individuals with their difficulties. These difficulties may range from relatively severe disorders, such as schizophrenia, to common life difficulties such as mid-life crises and adolescent rebellion and confusion. Clinical psychologists may also teach and do research in a college or university, work in a hospital, corporation, governmental agency, nonprofit agency, serve as consultants, or maintain a private practice doing therapy.

Counseling psychologists also use various tests and interviews to assess people, using their results to help these people. Counseling psychologists work with those who are experiencing less severe difficulties than do clinical psychologists, and unlike clinical psychologists, they are also trained in vocational and career guidance. They tend to work with those who are experiencing common difficulties in living and do not generally work with clients who have severe psychological difficulties like schizophrenia. Counseling psychologists may work in college or university counseling centers, schools, governmental agencies, community mental health centers, clinics, corporations, or rehabilitation centers. They may also maintain a private practice.